Nghe An: Martial arts master Tran Van Hai wins the Freestyle Martial Arts Federation belt, ending a turbulent season

On the night of August 15, at Nghe An Provincial Gymnasium, martial arts master Tran Van Hai (37, from Cuu Long Martial Arts Club) won a convincing victory against young martial artist Nguyen Quoc Anh (23) in the 70kg final of the National Freestyle Martial Arts Championship. The bout lasted three rounds, with Master Hai dominating on score points thanks to accurate elbow and knee strikes, as well as solid defense. The tournament was organized by the Vietnam Freestyle Martial Arts Federation in coordination with Nghe An Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, from August 12 to 15. According to organizers, it brought together more than 200 martial artists from 34 provinces and cities, competing in 10 weight categories. This was the first time in three years that the tournament returned to national scale after being postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. "I have waited for this moment for seven years. This belt proves the harsh months of training, not only in technique but also in spirit. My failure in last year's semi-finals taught me that in martial arts, there is no shortcut other than perseverance," Master Hai shared at the post-fight press conference. He had reached the semi-finals in 2026 and lost to veteran Le Minh Tuan. On the other side, despite losing, young martial artist Nguyen Quoc Anh caused a huge upset when he defeated two former national champions in earlier rounds. He is considered by experts as the most promising talent in Vietnamese combat sports. Quoc Anh's head coach, Pham Duc Thinh, said the strategy was to save energy and counter in the first round, but Master Hai's wrestling and locks prevented Quoc Anh from using his favorite style. Statistics from organizers show that Master Hai landed 87 scoring strikes in three rounds, including 12 successful elbows, while Quoc Anh had only 34 strikes and 3 successful knees. Master Hai's accuracy reached 61%, compared to his opponent's 42%. These numbers reflect the difference in experience and fight-reading ability. Notably, the bout had no knockout, but still attracted great attention due to its intensity and tactical fluctuation. In the stands, many fans stood throughout the three rounds to cheer. However, public opinion also questioned the refereeing as at least two situations where Master Hai was held without the referee deducting points were observed. According to experts watching from the changing room, the inconsistency in scoring remains a persistent issue in Vietnamese amateur tournaments. In addition, athlete safety was also raised, especially regarding weight cutting before fights. Some coaches called on the organizers to tighten medical checks after two fighters had to be hospitalized for heat shock due to rapid weight loss. With this championship, Master Tran Van Hai has officially secured a spot at the Asian Freestyle Martial Arts Championship 2026, scheduled for November in Bangkok, Thailand. His coaching team aims for a top-three finish to assert Vietnam's position in the regional martial arts map. This year's tournament also saw significant progress among under-23 martial artists. Notably, Vu Thi Hong Nhung (19, Dak Lak) surprised everyone by winning the gold medal in the women's 60kg category, overcoming a veteran who had dominated for years. This shows that the upcoming generation is being trained more systematically in localities. According to Nguyen Thu Ha, General Secretary of the Vietnam Freestyle Martial Arts Federation, this year's tournament had the highest professional quality ever. "We will continue to reform the referee system next season, and apply video replay support for each match. Fighters deserve the best protection," Ha said. The final match ended at 9:30 PM, and the stands were packed. The atmosphere in Nghe An last weekend was hotter than ever in the context of combat sports gradually returning after two gloomy years. Gloves were removed, but stories of overcoming hardships, falls, and ways to stand up still linger in fans' memories.